Life Insurance for People with Pre-Existing Conditions UK
A diagnosis of a long-term health condition can bring a wave of uncertainty, prompting many of us to think more seriously about the future and protecting our loved ones. A common question that arises is, "Can I still get life insurance?" For many, the answer is a resounding yes.
Navigating the world of life insurance with a pre-existing medical condition can feel daunting. You might worry about high premiums, complex forms, or even being declined outright. But the landscape of insurance is more nuanced and accommodating than you might think. With the right guidance and approach, securing affordable, robust protection for your family is often entirely achievable.
WeCovr’s complete guide to applying with health history
This guide is designed to demystify the process. We'll walk you through how insurers view different health conditions, what steps you can take to improve your application, and how expert advice can make all the difference. Let's put your mind at ease and empower you with the knowledge to secure the financial peace of mind you and your family deserve.
What Is a Pre-Existing Condition in the Eyes of an Insurer?
In the context of life insurance, a pre-existing condition is any illness, injury, or medical issue you have had symptoms of, received advice for, or been treated for before you apply for cover.
Insurers are interested in your health history because their fundamental role is to assess risk. The premium you pay is a reflection of the statistical likelihood of a claim being made on your policy. A pre-existing condition can, in some cases, increase this likelihood, which is why insurers need to know about it.
Common examples of pre-existing conditions include:
- Chronic Illnesses: Diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2), Asthma, Crohn's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis.
- Cardiovascular Issues: High blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart attack, stroke.
- Mental Health Conditions: Depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD.
- Cancer: A history of any type of cancer, even if you are in remission.
- Lifestyle-related Conditions: High BMI (Body Mass Index) or obesity.
- Musculoskeletal Disorders: Rheumatoid arthritis, chronic back pain.
It's crucial to understand that having one of these conditions does not automatically disqualify you from getting cover. In fact, with many common and well-managed conditions, you may still be able to secure a policy at standard rates.
The Golden Rule: The Importance of Full and Honest Disclosure
If there is one piece of advice to take away from this guide, it's this: always be completely transparent about your medical history on your application.
It can be tempting to omit a minor condition or downplay a past health scare, fearing it will increase your premiums. However, this is a significant mistake. Insurers have access to your medical records (with your permission) and will use them during the underwriting process or, crucially, at the point of a claim.
This principle is enshrined in law. The Insurance Act 2015 requires consumers to take "reasonable care to not make a misrepresentation". Failing to disclose a relevant health condition is known as 'non-disclosure'. If this is discovered when your family makes a claim, the insurer has the right to:
- Void the policy: This means they treat the policy as if it never existed and refuse to pay the claim. They may refund the premiums you've paid, but this offers no comfort to a grieving family relying on that financial support.
- Adjust the claim amount: They might recalculate what your premiums should have been with the correct information and reduce the payout accordingly.
The consequences are severe and entirely avoidable. The best policy is always honesty. A good broker can help you present your health information accurately and in the best possible light.
How Insurers Assess Your Application: The Underwriting Process
Once you submit your application, it goes to the insurer's underwriting team. These are the specialists who assess the risk associated with your application. They will look at your declared conditions and weigh up several factors to decide on the terms of your policy.
The potential outcomes are:
| Outcome | Description | What It Means for You |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Rates | Your application is accepted on the insurer's standard terms without any modifications. | You pay the same premium as someone of the same age and lifestyle with no health conditions. This is common for minor or very well-managed conditions. |
| Premium Loading | Your application is accepted, but your monthly premium is increased by a certain percentage (e.g., +50%, +100%). | You get the full cover you applied for, but at a higher cost. This reflects the increased statistical risk. |
| Exclusion | Your application is accepted, but the policy will not pay out for death related to a specific condition. | You have cover for all other causes of death, but not the one excluded. This is less common for life insurance but can occur with critical illness cover. |
| Postponement | The insurer delays making a decision for a set period (e.g., 6-12 months). | You cannot get cover at this time. This often happens if you've had a recent diagnosis, are awaiting surgery, or your condition is not yet stable. |
| Decline | The insurer is unable to offer you cover at this time. | This is the least common outcome, typically reserved for very severe, complex, or terminal conditions where the risk is too high to insure. |
An experienced broker, like our team at WeCovr, understands the underwriting philosophies of different UK insurers. Some providers are more lenient with diabetes, while others might have more favourable terms for people with a history of mental health conditions. We use this market knowledge to match you with the insurer most likely to give you the best possible terms for your specific circumstances.
A Closer Look: Life Insurance and Common Health Conditions
Let's delve into some of the most common pre-existing conditions and what underwriters typically want to know.
Diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2)
With over 5 million people in the UK living with diabetes, according to Diabetes UK, this is one of the most common conditions insurers encounter. Getting cover is very possible, but the key is demonstrating good management.
What insurers will ask:
- Type of Diabetes: Type 1 or Type 2.
- Date of Diagnosis: How long have you lived with the condition?
- Your Latest HbA1c Reading: This blood test measures your average blood sugar levels over the past few months and is a critical indicator of control. A reading below 7% (53 mmol/mol) is generally viewed very favourably.
- Medication & Treatment: Are you controlling it with diet, tablets, or insulin?
- Complications: Do you have any related issues like retinopathy (eye problems), neuropathy (nerve damage), or nephropathy (kidney problems)?
- Other Vitals: Your recent blood pressure and cholesterol readings are also important.
| HbA1c Reading (mmol/mol) | Likely Insurer Outcome |
|---|---|
| Under 53 | Good chance of standard rates or a small premium loading. |
| 54 - 64 | A moderate premium loading is likely. |
| 65 - 86 | A significant premium loading is probable. |
| Over 87 | High chance of postponement or decline. |
Heart Conditions and High Blood Pressure
The British Heart Foundation reports that around 7.6 million people in the UK live with heart and circulatory diseases. If you have a history of a heart attack, angina, or an irregular heartbeat, or if you manage high blood pressure (hypertension), insurers will need detailed information.
What insurers will ask:
- The Specific Condition: What was the exact diagnosis?
- Date of Event/Diagnosis: When did you have a heart attack or get diagnosed? The more time that has passed, the better.
- Treatment: Have you had surgery (e.g., bypass, stent), or are you managing it with medication?
- Current Status: Are your symptoms stable and well-controlled?
- Lifestyle Factors: Do you smoke? What are your diet and exercise habits?
For high blood pressure, consistent and well-controlled readings are key. If your readings are consistently below 140/90 with or without medication, you have a strong chance of securing cover with little to no premium increase.
History of Cancer
A cancer diagnosis is life-changing, and the thought of securing life insurance afterwards can be stressful. However, it is often possible. Cancer Research UK statistics show that 1 in 2 people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, so insurers have well-established processes for this.
What insurers will ask:
- Type of Cancer: The specific type of cancer is crucial.
- Grade and Stage: This indicates how aggressive the cancer was and how far it had spread.
- Date of Diagnosis: When were you diagnosed?
- Treatment: What treatment did you receive (e.g., surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy)?
- Date of Remission: When did your treatment end, and when were you declared cancer-free?
The single most important factor is the time elapsed since the end of successful treatment. While each case is unique, a general rule of thumb is that many insurers will start to consider applications around two years post-remission, with terms becoming much more favourable after five years. For some less aggressive cancers, like low-grade skin cancer that has been fully removed, you may even get standard rates soon after treatment.
Mental Health Conditions
Mental health awareness has grown significantly, and insurers are adapting. According to the NHS, 1 in 4 adults in England experience a mental health issue each year. It is now one of the most common disclosures on insurance applications.
What insurers will ask:
- The Diagnosis: Is it anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, or something else?
- Severity and Frequency: Was it a single episode or a recurring condition? How does it affect your daily life?
- Treatment: Are you on medication, receiving therapy, or both?
- Time Off Work: Have you had to take any time off work due to the condition?
- Hospitalisation: Have you ever been hospitalised?
- Suicidal Thoughts or Attempts: This is a sensitive but critical question that must be answered honestly.
For mild to moderate anxiety or depression that is well-managed with medication or therapy and has not resulted in hospitalisation, it's often possible to get life insurance at standard rates. More severe or complex conditions may result in a premium loading or postponement.
High BMI (Overweight or Obesity)
Your Body Mass Index (BMI) is a simple measure of your weight relative to your height. Insurers use it as a general indicator of health. A high BMI is statistically linked to an increased risk of developing conditions like Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers.
How insurers view BMI:
| BMI Range | Category | Likely Insurer Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 18.5 - 24.9 | Healthy Weight | Standard rates. |
| 25.0 - 29.9 | Overweight | Usually standard rates, unless other risk factors are present. |
| 30.0 - 39.9 | Obese | A premium loading is likely, increasing with BMI. |
| 40.0+ | Severely Obese | A significant loading or potential decline, especially if other health issues exist. |
The good news is that BMI is a modifiable risk factor. Losing weight can have a direct and positive impact on the cost of your life insurance.
Practical Steps to a Successful Application
- Get Organised: Before you even start an application, gather your medical information. Know the names of your conditions, dates of diagnosis, names of medications and dosages, and the contact details for your GP or specialists.
- Focus on Your Health: Demonstrating that you are actively managing your condition is hugely beneficial. Keep up with your appointments, take your medication as prescribed, and follow your doctor's advice. A recent, positive report from your GP can be your best asset.
- Embrace a Healthy Lifestyle: Quitting smoking is the single most impactful change you can make, potentially halving your premiums. A balanced diet and regular exercise can help manage weight, blood pressure, and blood sugar, all of which are scrutinised by underwriters. At WeCovr, we believe in supporting our clients' long-term health, which is why we provide complimentary access to CalorieHero, our AI-powered calorie and nutrition tracking app, to help you on your wellness journey.
- Work With an Independent Broker: This is not a self-serving point; it is the most critical step for anyone with a pre-existing condition. A specialist broker like WeCovr doesn't work for one insurer; we work for you. We can:
- Anonymously sound out the market: We can talk to underwriters on your behalf without submitting a formal application, giving you an idea of the likely outcome without leaving a footprint on your record.
- Identify the right insurer: We know which providers have the most favourable view of your specific condition.
- Help frame your application: We ensure your information is presented clearly, accurately, and in the best possible context.
- Fight your corner: If you receive an unfair decision, we can challenge it on your behalf.
What If My Application Is Declined?
Receiving a decline can be disheartening, but it's not always the end of the road.
- Understand Why: The insurer must give a reason. Was it the severity of your condition, a recent change in health, or a combination of factors?
- Don't Re-apply Blindly: Submitting multiple applications to different insurers without a strategy can be counterproductive, as each decline is recorded.
- Consult a Specialist: This is where a broker becomes invaluable. We can analyse the decline and approach a more specialist insurer who may have a different risk appetite.
- Consider Alternatives: If traditional life insurance isn't an option right now, there may be other products. An Over 50s Life Insurance plan, for example, guarantees acceptance with no medical questions. The trade-off is that the sum assured is typically lower, and there's often a 1-2 year waiting period before the policy pays out for death by natural causes.
Protection for Every Walk of Life
Life insurance isn't the only form of protection. Depending on your circumstances, other policies are just as, if not more, important—especially if you have health concerns.
For Business Owners, Directors, and the Self-Employed
If you run your own business or work for yourself, your health is your greatest asset. A pre-existing condition can make you think about what would happen if you were unable to work.
- Income Protection: This is arguably the most important policy for anyone who earns a living. It pays a regular monthly income if you can't work due to illness or injury. Having a pre-existing condition makes this cover even more vital. Underwriters will assess your condition similarly to how they do for life insurance, and may apply a premium loading or an exclusion for claims related to that specific condition.
- Executive Income Protection: A tax-efficient version for company directors, paid for by the business.
- Key Person Insurance: A life or critical illness policy taken out by a business on a crucial employee. If that person becomes seriously ill or passes away, the payout helps the business absorb the financial impact.
- Relevant Life Cover: A tax-efficient death-in-service benefit for directors, allowing the company to pay for a life insurance policy as a legitimate business expense.
Other Valuable Protection Products
- Critical Illness Cover: Pays a tax-free lump sum if you are diagnosed with a specific serious illness listed in the policy. With a pre-existing condition, the insurer might place an exclusion on that condition or related ones. For example, if you have a history of a minor heart attack, they might exclude future cardiovascular events but still cover you for cancer, stroke, and other conditions.
- Family Income Benefit: Instead of a lump sum, this pays out a regular, tax-free monthly income to your family upon your death, for the remainder of the policy term. It can be a more affordable and manageable way to provide for ongoing family expenses.
- Gift Inter Vivos: If you have gifted a large sum of money or an asset (like a property) and are worried about Inheritance Tax (IHT) should you pass away within 7 years, this specialist policy can cover the potential tax bill.
Final Thoughts: You Are More Than Your Medical History
Living with a pre-existing health condition is part of life for millions of people in the UK. It shapes your experiences, but it does not have to define your ability to protect your family's future.
The UK insurance market is competitive and sophisticated. Insurers understand that a diagnosis is not the full story; it's how you manage your health and live your life that truly matters. By being proactive about your health, honest in your application, and strategic in your approach, securing the protection you need is more than just a possibility—it's a probability.
Don't let fear or uncertainty stop you from taking this important step. With expert guidance, you can navigate the process with confidence and find a policy that provides lasting peace of mind.
Do I need to declare a condition my doctor is still investigating?
Will my premiums go up if I develop a health condition after my policy has started?
Is getting life insurance for someone with a history of cancer possible?
Can I get life insurance if I'm overweight?
What's the difference between a premium 'loading' and an 'exclusion'?
Why life insurance and how does it work?
What is Life Insurance?
Life insurance is an insurance policy that can provide financial support for your loved ones when you or your joint policy holder passes away. It can help clear any outstanding debts, such as a mortgage, and cover your family's living and other expenses such costs of education, so your family can continue to pay bills and living expenses. In addition to life insurance, insurance providers offer related products such as income protection and critical illness, which we will touch upon below.How does it work?
Life insurance pays out if you die. The payout can be in the form of a lump sum payment or can be paid as a replacement for a regular income. It's your decision how much cover you'd like to take based on your financial resources and how much you'd like to leave to your family to help them deal with any outstanding debts and living expenses. Your premium depends on a number of factors, including your occupation, health and other criteria.The payout amount can change over time or can be fixed. A level term or whole of life policy offers a fixed payout. A decreasing term policy offers a payout that decreases over the term of the cover.
With critical illness policies, a payout is made if you’re diagnosed with a terminal illness with a remaining life expectancy of less than 12 months. While income protection policies ensure you can continue to meet your financial commitments if you are forced to take an extended break from work. If you can’t work because you’ve had an accident, fallen sick, or lost your job through no fault of your own, income protection insurance pays you an agreed portion of your salary each month.
Income protection is particularly helpful for people in dangerous occupations who want to be sure their mortgage will always be covered. Income protection only covers events beyond your control: you’re much less likely to be covered if you’re fired from your job or if you injure yourself deliberately.
Questions to ask yourself regarding life insurance
Just ask yourself:👉 Who would pay your mortgage or rent if you were to pass away or fall seriously ill?
👉 Who would pay for your family’s food, clothing, study fees or lifestyle?
👉 Who would provide for the costs of your funeral or clear your debts?
👉 Who would pay for your costs if you're unable to work due to serious illness or disability?
Many families don’t realise that life, income protection and critical illness insurance is one of the most effective ways to protect their finances. A great insurance policy can cover costs, protect a family from inheriting debts and even pay off a mortgage.
Many would think that the costs for all the benefits provided by life insurance, income protection insurance or critical illness insurance are too high, but the great news is in the current market policies are actually very inexpensive.
Benefits offered by income protection, life and critical illness insurance
Life insurance, income protection and critical illness insurance are indispensable for every family because a child loses a parent every 22 minutes in the UK, while every single day tragically 60 people suffer major injuries on the UK roads. Some people become unable to work because of sickness or disability.Life insurance cover pays out a lump sum to your family, loved ones or whomever you choose to get the money. This can be used to secure the financial future of your loved ones meaning they would not have to struggle financially in the event of your death.
If it's a critical illness cover, the payout happens sooner - upon diagnosis of a serious illness, disability or medical condition, easing the financial hardship such an event inevitably brings.
Income protection insurance can be very important for anyone who relies on a pay check to cover their living costs, but it's especially important if you’re self-employed or own a small business, where your employment and income is a bit less stable. It pays a regular income if you can't work because of sickness or disability and continues until you return to paid work or you retire.
In a world where 1 in 4 of us would struggle financially after just four weeks without work, the stark reality hits hard – a mere 7% of UK adults possess the vital shield of income protection. The urgency of safeguarding our financial well-being has never been more palpable.
Let's face it – relying on savings isn't a solution for everyone. Almost 25% of people have no savings at all, and a whopping 50% have £1,000 or less tucked away. Even more concerning, 51% of Brits – that's a huge 27 million people – wouldn't last more than one month living off their savings. That's a 10% increase from 2022.
And don't even think about state benefits being a safety net. The maximum you can expect from statutory sick pay is a mere £109.40 per week for up to 28 weeks. Not exactly a financial lifeline, right?
Now, let's tackle a common objection: "But I have critical illness insurance. I don't need income protection too." Here's the deal – the two policies apply to very different situations. In a nutshell:
- Critical illness insurance pays a single lump sum if you're diagnosed with or undergo surgery for a specified potentially life-threatening illness. It's great for handling big one-off expenses or debts.
- Income protection, on the other hand, pays a percentage of your salary as a regular payment if you can't work due to illness or injury. It's the superhero that tackles those relentless monthly bills.
Types of life insurance policies
Common reasons for getting a life insurance policy are to:✅ Leave behind an amount of money to keep your family comfortable
✅ Protect the family home and pay off the mortgage in full or in part
✅ Pay for funeral costs
Starting from as little as a couple of pounds per week, you can do all that with a Life Policy.
Level Term Life Insurance
One of the simplest forms of life insurance, level term life insurance works by selecting a length of time for which you would want to be covered and then deciding how much you would like your loved ones to receive should the worst happen. Should your life insurance policy pay out to your family, it would be in a lump sum amount that can be used in whatever way the beneficiary may wish.
Decreasing Term Life Insurance
Decreasing term life insurance works in the same way as level term, except the lump sum payment amount upon death decreases with time. The common use for decreasing term life cover is to protect against mortgage repayment as the lump sum decreases along with the principal of the mortgage itself.
Increasing Term Life Insurance
Increasing term life insurance aims to pay out a cash sum growing each year if the worst happens while covered by the policy. With increasing term life cover amount insured increases annually by a fixed amount for the length of the policy. This can protect your policy's value against inflation, which could be advantageous if you’re looking to maintain your loved ones’ living standards, continue paying off your mortgage in line with its repayment schedule and cover your children’s education fees.
Whole of Life Insurance
Whereas term life insurance policies only pay out if you pass away during their term, whole of life insurance pays out to your beneficiaries whenever this should happen. The most common uses for whole life insurance are to cover the costs of a funeral or as a vehicle for your family's inheritance tax planning.
Family Income Benefit
Family income benefit is a somewhat lesser-known product in the family of life insurance products. Paying out a set amount every month of year to your beneficiaries, it is the most cost-effective way of maintaining your family's living standards to an age where you'd expect them to be able to support themselves financially. The most common use would be for a family with children who are not working yet so are unable to take care of themselves financially.
Relevant Life Insurance
Relevant Life Insurance is a tax-efficient policy for a director or single employee. A simple level term life insurance product, it is placed in a specific trust to ensure its tax efficiency. The premiums are tax deductible and any benefit payable should a claim arise is also paid out tax free, which makes it an attractive product for entrepreneurs and their businesses.
Important Fact!
We can look at a more suitable option mid-term!
Why is it important to get life insurance early?
👉 Many people are very thankful that they had their life, income protection, and critical illness insurance cover in place before running into some serious issues. Critical illness and income protection insurance is as important as life insurance for protecting your family's finances.👉 We insure our cars, houses, bicycles and even bags! Yet our life and health are the most precious things we have.
Easily one of the most important insurance purchases an individual or family can make in their lifetime, the decision to buy life, income protection, critical illness and private medical health insurance can be made much simpler with the help of FCA-authorised advisers. They are the specialists who do the searching and analysis helping people choose between various types of life insurance policies available in the market, including income protection, critical illness and other types of policies most suitable to the client's individual circumstances.
It certainly won't do any harm if you speak with one of our experienced FCA-authorised insurance partner experts who are passionate about advising people on financial matters related to life insurance and are keen to provide you with a free consultation.
You can discuss with them in detail what affordable life, income protection, critical illness or private medical health insurance plan for the necessary peace of mind they would recommend! WeCovr works with some of the best advisers in the market.
By tapping the button below, you can book a free call with them in less than 30 seconds right now:
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WeCovr is an insurance specialist for people valuing their peace of mind and a great service.👍 WeCovr will help you get your private medical insurance, life insurance, critical illness insurance and others in no time thanks to our wonderful super-friendly experts ready to assist you every step of the way.
Just a quick and simple form and an easy conversation with one of our experts and your valuable insurance policy is in place for that needed peace of mind!